Call for Volunteers: How-tos for Clearing Browser Cookies

[av8rmike]

It was recently pointed out that the tutorial entries in howto that cover clearing cookies in different browsers haven't been update since 2003. Because we sometimes refer to these entries in answers to Support requests, it would be much more helpful if the instructions weren't so laughably obsolete

Comments

[silverflight8]

I've been meaning to put up a post like this for ages >.>; I'll take IE9, since I believe I'm the only one with it - I'll comment back with it later tonight.

eta: I mean Windows: Internet Explorer.

[silverflight8]

To delete all your cookies

[trixieleitz]

I just did FF 3.5.6 on Windows, but you could maybe check the instructions against the version you have, and see if they are the same?

Mac OS X

[trixieleitz]

I'm focussing these on remove selected cookies instead of just nuking the lot, because losing the login cookie for that other site where you don't remember your password sucks. Windows versions of these browsers might be a little different. Version number is for the actual browser I have; you can make them more generic if you like.

Firefox 3.6.17

1. In the "Firefox" menu, open "Preferences...". A new window will appear.
2. Click the "Privacy" tab, then click the "remove individual cookies" link. A new window will appear with a list of cookies.
3. (Optional) Type livejournal into the search bar at the top of the window. The list of cookies will change so that only cookies from LiveJournal are displayed.
4. Select the cookies you want to delete and click the "Remove Cookie" button.

Google Chrome 12.0.742.100

1. In the "Chrome" menu, open "Clear browsing data..." A new browser tab will open

[silverflight8]

A suggestion: can we get an bookmark (by using an anchor)inside of each browser system? e.g. going to the instructions for Internet Explorer 6 could be managed by http://howto.livejournal.com/19871.html#ie6 (or something similar). That way people can get to the part they need easily, without needing to worry about deleting/splitting up pages.

Windows XP

[trixieleitz]

I am bored and on a Windows box, so:

Firefox 3.5.6

1. In the "Tools" menu, select "Options..." A new window will appear.
2. Click the "Privacy" tab, then click the "remove individual cookies" link. A new window will appear with a search box at the top and a list of cookies below it.
3. (Optional) Type livejournal into the search bar at the top of the window. The list of cookies will change so that only cookies from LiveJournal are displayed.
4. Select the individual cookies that you want to delete and click the "Remove Cookie" button.

Internet Explorer 8
Same as the instructions that Silver gave for IE9 :)

Re: Windows XP

[silverflight8]

Firefox 3
To clear all of your cookies:
*In the "Tools" menu, select "Clear Recent History"
*Set the "Time range to clear" to "Everything", and select only "Cookies". Click "Clear now".

(Firefox actually has many many ways of doing this but this one is the fastest :P)

Re: Windows XP

[trixieleitz]

Yeah, I was focussing on selective pruning rather than carpet-bombing the whole lot - just in case they thereby log themselves out of a website that they don't remember their password for :)

Vista

[silverflight8]

Also, in IE8, you can use the same instructions as pretty much IE6 - going into the individual cookie files and finding Cookie:livejournal.com for individual cookies (you don't need to use the developer tools, although you can) and clearing all the cookies is consistent across IE6-9 anyway.

tested the IE8 on Vista.

iOS (iPhone, iPad, iPod touch)

[trixieleitz]

In case we want to include mobile devices?

Safari
(I can't find a way to delete individual cookies; here's how to nuke the lot)

Please note that following these instructions will also log you out of all other sites that you have visited in this browser. You may wish to ensure that you know the passwords for any other sites that you visit before you proceed.

To clear cookies:

1. On the Home Screen, tap "Settings";
2. Scroll down and tap "Safari";
3. Scroll down and tap "Clear Cookies";
4. A confirmation dialog will appear. Tap "Clear Cookies" in the confirmation dialog.

Opera Mini
(disclaimer as above)

1. Open the Opera Mini app and click the red "O" icon at the bottom right of the screen. A menu will appear